Port Richey homeowner shoots at intruders; one injured

PORT RICHEY — A homeowner wielding a shotgun shot one of four intruders who entered his house about 4 a.m. Wednesday looking for cash and pills, the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office reported.

Three of the four were later arrested, including the man who was shot, the sheriff’s office reported.

Sheriff Chris Nocco said the house at 10917 Gawarin Road was targeted and the people living there and the home invaders were familiar with each other.

Investigators identified the man who was shot as Steven Reverdes, 33, of New Port Richey. He will survive, they said. The other two were Michael Reverdes, 31, of New Port Richey, and Joseph Rich, 23, of New Port Richey. All were charged with armed home invasion and additional charges may be filed, Sgt. James Sessa of the sheriff’s office said.

The fourth man is still at large.

A man, two women and a baby were inside the house when the intruders entered, demanding the $1,600 in cash and prescription pills they knew were inside, the sheriff’s office reported. The intruders beat one of the women and pointed a gun at the baby, the sheriff’s office reported.

One of the women said something that revealed she knew one of the Reverdes and the intruders briefly went outside, giving the man time to retrieve a shotgun, Nocco said. When they came back inside, the man told them to leave or he would shoot, Nocco said.

They didn’t and a gun battle ensued, the sheriff said.

Steven Reverdes crawled outside, where deputies later found him hiding under a car, and the other three men left in a car, Nocco said.